Six first period goals by the Rangers ended Kevin Lankinen's night early, and the Predators couldn't push back.
The Nashville Predators traveled to Madison Square Garden to take on the 40-19-10 New York Rangers tonight in each teams' second game in back to backs. The Predators were without Roman Josi who left yesterday's game with an injury. The Preds roster has been depleted by recent injuries - Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, Alexandre Carrier, Juuso Pärssinen, and Ryan McDonagh were also out again tonight. Nashville recalled defenseman Jordan Gross from Milwaukee, and he joined the team tonight. Kevin Lankinen got the start in net for the Predators.
The Predators faced a Rangers team poised to make a serious playoff run. The team traded for Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko to add to an already impressive forward group. Adam Fox is having another strong season both defensively and offensively, and Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller add plenty of depth at the blue line. Tonight backup goaltender Jaroslav Halak started for the Rangers.
Game Recap
The Rangers got on the board early as Filip Chytil skated through the defense and lifted the puck over Lankinen's pad at 2:37. Nashville generated pressure on Halak early with a net front chance but couldn't finish. Instead it was Mika Zibanejad who scored next with a back door shot at 7:22. The pressure didn't let up, and Tyler Motte shot the puck past Lankinen at 8:14 to give the Rangers an early 3-0 lead.
A breakaway chance for the Rangers resulted in a hooking call on Tyson Barrie, and the Rangers potent power play went to work at 8:30. Just :24 seconds into the man advantage, Patrick Kane was called for goalie interference, and the teams battled four on four. K'Andre Miller scored on a two on one chance, and Kevin Lankinen's night ended at 9:09 in the first period after four goals on five shots.
K'Andre Miller celebrates a goal. The Predators were caught with too many men on the ice during a line change, and the game shifted to a four on three. Artemi Panarin scored almost immediately on the power play, giving the Rangers a 5-0 lead just halfway through the first period. The scoring onslaught continued as K'Andre Miller scored his second of the period from the blue line at 13:36. Nashville generated a handful of offensive chances late, but the Preds headed to the locker room down 6-0 after the first twenty minutes.
The second period began with Nashville creating offensive chances. Nashville got their first chance on the power play as Vincent Trocheck headed to the box for a trip at 5:35. Nashville's power play pressured Halak but didn't score, and the teams returned to full strength.
The Rangers got pressure on Saros and a second rebound was finally buried by Chris Kreider at 9:02. The Rangers quickly reloaded off the center ice faceoff, and Tyson Barrie headed to the penalty box for a hold. Nashville was able to hold off New York's power play this time and return to full strength.
Cole Smith was called for interference with :21 remaining in the second period giving New York another chance with a man advantage. The period expired with a score of 7-0 and plenty of time left for the Rangers on the power play to start the final period.
The final period started with the Rangers on the power play. Colton Sissons missed on an early shorthanded chance, but Nashville was able to kill off the rest of the penalty.
The Preds slowly began generating opportunities in the offensive zone but didn't get a shot on net through the first seven minutes of the third period. As the period wound down, Nashville added six shots on net, but Halak earned the shut out as time expired.
Game Notes
1. This is what a "resetting" team looks like playing a Stanley Cup contender. The Rangers added key pieces to an already stout lineup and they are pushing for a deep playoff run. The Preds are committed to a rebuild, and these are the "growing pain" games a young Nashville roster will have to play sometimes.
2. If you wondered how important Roman Josi is, this game tells you. The Predators' defense was profoundly outmatched in that first period, and without Josi the blue liners couldn't regroup under the pressure.
3. A game like this reveals character. It isn't easy to come back out on the ice after going down 6-0 in the first period, but adversity can be a harsh but effective teacher. There was nothing fun about the final forty minutes for these young players, but the players who continued to push and compete will be of note down the line.